By: Naomi Tappia
Thousands of Liberians are calling for the impeachment of Grand Gedeh County, one of the 15 sub-political divisions of Liberia, situated in the South Eastern part, Congressman Alex Grant for what they termed as academic fraudulence after the Congressman allegedly enrolled at the famous State run University of Liberia Graduate School with fake credential claiming that he is a graduate of Ibadan University in Nigeria.
It can be recalled, the Ibadan University in Nigeria sharply reacted to the information when the debate startedover the fake degree presented by the Member of Parliament that was unearthed by arguably the best local daily in the Country, Front Page Africa after their investigation. The Ibadan University in reaction stated that they have at no time had in their institution Congressman Alex Grant as student, a revelation that prompted the State run University of Liberia to set up investigative panel to probe the assertion.
The Grand Gedeh County Congressman is on record for informing Liberians that he graduated from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, earning an undergraduate degree in Sociology with distinction in 2005.
The Congressman resided in Nigeria as a refugee during the 14 years of terminal civil war fought in Liberia.
Unconfirmed reports circulating in some quarters of the University of Liberia and the Country have claimed that the Congressman confessed judgement before the panel that the credential presented by him was manufactured in order to enable him have easy entry at the University and has since pleaded with said committee not to inquire from the Ibadan University concerning his credential.
It has being speculated that he pledged before the committee to discontinue his studies at the Graduate School where he is currently pursuing Master’s in Education, but the State University is reportedly considering expelling the Congressman as inscribed in its handbook while others are calling for criminal prosecution into the matter.
Meanwhile, the administration of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion University ( AMUZ), one of the most influential private Universities in Liberia has with immediate effect revoked degrees of at least 14 students the institution termed as not qualify for its just ended 3oth commencement convocation held in April of 2021.
The President of the University Dr. Benjamin Lartay narrated that 69 students did not meet financial requirements but were fraudulently placed on the list of satisfied students for the last commencement convocation while the 14 others did not meet the academic requirements for graduation.
The University has named kokolo Borfor, Manum Siafa, Massa Martin, Naomi Martin, Albert Dennis, Thelma Carter, Emma Somearibi Gayflor Kokolo, Kaifa Dukuly, Kolly Bryant, Sawah Kofa, Wollo Weah, Bill Kamara and Olivia Sheriff as students who didn’t reportedly meet the academic requirements of the institution for graduation.
At the same time, the administration has given 21- days’ ultimatum to students who didn’t complete their financial requirements to do so within 1 semester or be consider as non-graduates of the AME Zion University, while the University administration has suspended for time indefinite several instructors connected to what the administration described as fraudulent qualification of students who didn’t complete benchmarks for graduation.
The President of the University revealed to the public via the media that, Joseph Warmah of the Department of Criminal Justice and Denny Horton – Assistant Dean of Admission have been suspended indefinitely while investigation continues into the matter.
Others who were supposedly involved are; Dr. Martin Richards- Vice President for Academic Affairs and Patrick Tokpah- Director of Technology of the AME Zion University who according to the University released information to the media on Wednesday are connected to the fraudulent graduation of students who did not meet the institution requirements.
Meanwhile, one of Liberia’s educational analysts, Benjamin Wehyee who analyses for Truth FM, a local station in Liberia has joined the many voices pushing for the expulsion or indefinite suspension of the MPAlex Grant who represents District #3 of his County Grand Gedeh for lying under oath and faking his credential.The education analysts cited Chapter 12, Rule 40.1 and 2 of the House’s standing rule which “states that without prejudice to the provisions of this rule, every member shall be honest and transparent at any time, furthering that no member may introduce false information or unsubstantiated matter pretending to be true”.
He added that the congressman acted in violation of their rule and allegedly committed what he termed as Academic Crime, adding that the action of Congressman Alex Grant has reputable lawmaker locally and internationally, as such, the House must take drastic actions to serve as deterrence to others.
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